The Traitor's Story

by Kevin Wignall

She created a new identity for herself, and she thought it through, even down to leaving her old music behind. She created a new identity.” “But why would she do that?” “I don’t know, but if we can find out, it might tell us where she’s gone.”

Hailey’s new identity had been planned carefully. She was at that fluid age anyway, when girls could morph into women with a change of clothes and the wrong make-up, but she’d judged it perfectly in only seeking to make herself a few years older: a student, a recognizable type.

his day had hardly been peaceful. The Portmans’ daughter was missing, his own girlfriend had left him, and yet at some level he did feel at peace. He’d enjoyed making inquiries, had enjoyed exploring a mystery that was not of his own making, a reminder in some way of the life that might have been his.

in short, you go to Karasek, tell him you’re leaving, that you want a retirement plan. You tell him about the ship docking in Kaliningrad—no one else knows about it, only you—giving him the opportunity to go in there and steal a nice big container full of marching powder.”

“Before I say any more, I need to know whether you’re in. Chances are, you’ll be seen as a traitor by your colleagues, you’ll leave under a cloud, and only a small number of people will know the service you’ll have rendered.” “And if I say no?” “Then, presumably, you’ll leave without blemish.”

The only thought that registered with any certainty was the realization that his new life was over, that the rebuilding effort had been in vain.

Finally he said, “What kind of spy were you?” Finn looked at him, guessing it was pointless to deny it now, and said, “Not a very good one.” Jonas laughed. “I’m serious. I wasn’t incompetent, but I was . . . corrupt, for want of a better word.”